Edited by Aelryinth
“Hmm? That kid is really a student from the last cohort. Looks like I’m really old now, and my eyes aren’t reliable anymore…” Uncle Tai mumbled to himself with a suspicious look, seeing Zhang Che walking into the school with Han Sheqing.
His fellow security officer, the other “Uncle Tai”, was still experiencing the springtime of love in his old age, meeting with countless youthful girls. He was incomparable to that. He had really grown old. -Looks like I should apply for retirement after this year ends…-
Ma Jihui and the other security officers were similarly shocked. Since he was aware of some matters, Ma Jihui was incredibly shaken right now. He didn’t expect to really meet the legendary student of Number Two Secondary School!
As for the other ordinary members, they didn’t know much about Zhang Che. They only heard some rumors, and thus asked Ma Jihui, “Team Leader, is that kid really the senior from the last cohort, Zhang Che? I recall hearing that student is incredible, and is doing great in Bei Du. Look at the way he walks; he should be a mid-tier beastmaster now, right?”
Ma Jihui cast a glance at him, saying, “Mid-tier beastmaster… If I’m not wrong, he is already at the peak of Tier Six. Perhaps he will advance into a high-tier beastmaster anytime soon!”
Ma Jihui knew a little about Zhang Che battling the Zhen family’s Tier Six beastmaster. Him emerging victorious in the arena deathmatch went to show Zhang Che was extremely powerful. Being at the peak of Tier Six wasn’t a problem for him at all!
“Ah? That powerful? He shouldn’t have hit twenty yet, right? And he’s already about to become a high-tier beastmaster? Heavens! Looks like an incredible figure is about to emerge from our Qian Wei City!”
“How incredible! I heard that kid only became a beastmaster when he was close to eighteen years old. He’s actually going to become a high-tier beastmaster in less than a year! I’ve never heard of someone so incredible over the last thirty-some years!”
The security officers gasped in shock after hearing Ma Jihui’s words.
Suddenly, one of them asked, “Team Leader, you’re making Zhang Che out to be so powerful. What level do you think his subdued beasts are at? Surely he has legend-quality subdued beasts, right?”
“Right, I think he definitely does. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to reach the peak of Tier Six beastmaster so quickly. Tsk, tsk! Legend-quality subdued beasts! If I could have a legend-quality subdued beast in my life, even dying right now would be worth it!” The group of officers sighed together.
For ordinary low-tier beastmasters like them, let alone legend-quality subdued beast, they had never even seen a dark gold-quality beast before. No, even gold-quality subdued beasts, only Ma Jihui had one in the whole security office as the team leader, and it was only a low-tier one!
-Legend-quality subdued beast? Heh heh, you might die from shock if I said it out loud. That kid has a few epic-quality subdued beasts!- Ma Jihui thought to himself. However, he didn’t expose the fact that Zhang Che had epic-quality subdued beasts. That was already considered half-confidential information. It was better to not let ordinary people like them know about it.
However, it seemed like a huge figure was really going to emerge from Qian Wei City! Someone who was not even twenty years old was possibly becoming a high-tier beastmaster, in addition to having multiple epic-quality subdued beasts! Zhang Che might not only be a legend of Number Two Secondary School in the future, but a legend of Qian Wei City!
——-
Zhang Che stopped Han Sheqing from informing the school leaders of his return. The two strolled through the spacious and empty soccer field, speaking casually.
“With you coming back this time, are you interested in giving a speech to your juniors to encourage them, and let them have you as their role model, helping more powerful beastmasters emerge from our Number Two Secondary School?”
Zhang Che shook his head at Han Sheqing’s suggestion, smiling, “Forget it. I think Teacher Han probably knows some secrets, and is aware that we’re entering times of trouble. Just let these juniors grow naturally.
“After all, if they’re weaker, they won’t be the first to be sent into the battlefield. It’d be hard to say otherwise if they’re stronger. Moreover, I have things to take care of during my stay here in Qian Wei City. I’m afraid I can’t find the time for that. I only have a little bit of time tonight and thus decided to come visit you, not thinking about any other matters.”
Zhang Che didn’t want to become a role model for others. His growth wasn’t something others could imitate. Even if he really became the role model for his juniors, none of them could develop like him. Instead of leaving them in despair in the future, it was better for them not to know about his experiences.
Thinking back carefully, it really was too shocking to go from an ordinary person into a high-tier beastmaster in less than a years’ time. It was better for those without a strong will to not know, or they’d come to doubt life itself.
Han Sheqing didn’t press on. He smiled, “Forget it then, since you don’t have the time. But, an example like you can’t be applied to normal people, anyway. It really is best to let them grow naturally.”
The two strolled about, chatting, and the bell signalling the end of the night study session rang before they realized it.
Seeing as it was getting late, Zhang Che expressed his intention to leave to Han Sheqing. Before he left, a dark golden beast card suddenly appeared in his hand. He offered this two-star dark gold-quality beast to Han Sheqing with both hands, treating it as a gift to him.
Han Sheqing was shocked at the sight. He shook his head profusely, saying, “No, no, Zhang Che. That’s too valuable. Teacher is already very happy that you came to visit. I can’t accept your gift.”
Zhang Che smiled and said, “Teacher, I suppose you know about my situation, more or less. Just treat it as a little token from me. You have to accept it; if I didn’t have the beast card you lent to me when I first entered the beast world, I might not have been able to get to where I am today.”
Zhang Che made up a little lie. His achievements today really wasn’t very related to the beast card Han Sheqing lent him back then. It was all thanks to the Fiery Scorpion Miss Tienan gave him that he grew so quickly.
Han Sheqing tried to refuse, but seeing Zhang Che insisting on giving him the beast card, he could only accept it in the end, feeling a surge of emotion.
“Then teacher will thicken my skin a little and accept it. Zhang Che, I can no longer see through your skills. I’m sure you’ve grown extremely powerful now. I hope you will stay true to your heart and not to anything that will harm society.
“There’s an old saying that’s very true. With great power comes great responsibilities! I hope a day will come when I get to see you become the hero who saves the world. Of course, what’s most important is to keep yourself safe. Only by being alive do you have hopes of achieving greatness!”
Zhang Che nodded, “I will, teacher!”
——
After bidding farewell to Han Sheqing and walking out of the school gates, Zhang Che felt the gaze from Uncle Tai still contained some doubts.
-Do I really look that mature now and Uncle Tai is still suspecting me of being a hoodlum?-
After taking a last look at the familiar school, Zhang Che strode off and walked to the streets. He didn’t take a taxi home. Instead, he strolled along the main street unhurriedly.
After this trip here to shift his relatives’ remains, he might not have many chances to come back to Qian Wei City. It was better to take a walk on the streets and get more in touch with his hometown.
Just like that, Zhang Che strolled for half an hour in the direction back to his place. It was already past 10 PM, and the weather had officially shifted to winter. Although Qian Wei City was warmer than Bei Du, the night breeze still sent strong chills blowing upon on him.
Of course, this bit of cold was nothing much for Zhang Che. All of a sudden, Zhang Che stopped in place, his brow slightly furrowed. He turned his head to look at a secluded alley to the side. In the next moment, he turned his body as well and walked into the alley.
The alley was in ruins. The houses inside were unevenly matched. Those old apartments with two or three stories were even inferior to the poor district Zhang Che used to live in.
At a corner, a weak little figure was wrapped up, crying in a soft voice helplessly.
It was a little girl about seven or eight years old. Her clothes were tattered, and she was wearing a pair of torn shoes, her toes peeking out. She was shaking from the cold night wind.
She seemed to have heard Zhang Che’s footsteps. That little girl suddenly stopped crying and raised her head, looking up at Zhang Che with a smile. Two clear trails of tears could be seen on her cheeks, her eyes swollen red, and her skin slightly chapped.
“Little girl, why are you alone outside? Your family…” Zhang Che squatted down. He suddenly stopped mid-sentence just as he was about to ask why her family left her outside.
Obviously, for this little girl to be loitering out here in the middle of the night, she might not have anyone at home.
Indeed, the little girl looked to be on the verge of tears when she heard Zhang Che’s question. However, she probably didn’t want to cry in front of strangers and forcibly suppressed her tears, saying, “Daddy went to fight exotic beasts and haven’t been back in a long time. Our house was taken away by the baddies. They said my daddy died somewhere outside, but I don’t believe them. My daddy is a great hero; he’ll surely come back!”
Zhang Che sighed inside. Hearing her story, he roughly understood what had happened. Her father had probably met with an accident in the beast world and was never heard from in a long time. With no other relatives in the family, their apartment was occupied by some scum.
“Mmm. Uncle believes that your daddy must be a great hero! Then, what is your name? Where do you stay? Bring Uncle over; I’ll help you beat them off and get back your house, okay?”
The little girl looked at Zhang Che warily. Afterwards, she was probably affected by his smile and nodded, saying softly, “My name is Wu Yichen. My house is just inside this alley.”
“Alright, bring Uncle over. We’ll snatch back your house!” While speaking, Zhang Che took off his jacket and gently wrapped it around the little girl under her cautious gaze. Afterwards, he smiled faintly, indicating she should lead the way.
“But, Uncle, those baddies are very, very bad. Can you win against them? Too bad daddy isn’t back, or those baddies definitely wouldn’t dare to snatch our house!”
-Hmm, this little girl is very confident in her father.-
Zhang Che maintained the smile on his face, saying, “Don’t worry. Uncle is as strong as your daddy. I’ll definitely beat them up and make them run. Oh, by the way, what’s your daddy’s name?”
Zhang Che was thinking this little girl was so pitiful and wanted to ask her father’s name. Later on, he’d ask the Qian Wei military to help keep a lookout. Perhaps her father wasn’t dead and was trapped somewhere in the beast world?
Of course, that possibility was very slim. No one with such a little girl at home would stay in the beast world for an extended period of time and not come back!
“My daddy is called Wu Yunfeng. He’s the strongest hero!” the little girl said proudly.
However, Zhang Che raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard the name, huge waves crashing in his heart.
+++++++++
Translator’s Notes
Wu Yunfeng first appeared in Chapter 150. He tried to rob Zhang Che of his Cold Abyss Flood Dragon (before evolving into Darkfiend Abyssal Dragon) and Gluttony Monkey back then, but Zhang Che achieved Tier Four in the nick of time and reverse-killed him by summoning the Scarlet Flame Drake.
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